I love it when I am pleasantly surprised by a drama. The Netflix 2023 original Kdrama Love to Hate You sat somewhere around thirty-five on my “to watch” list but I had a trip coming up and I like to download episodes of shows to watch on the plane. Netflix downloads are the most reliable so after grabbing several episodes of Tomorrow, I wondered if I would need something a little lighter to balance that show out. Then I remembered Love to Hate You. I downloaded two episodes, which is good because that is how many episodes it took to get me hooked. Within a few days, I finished all ten bingeable episodes. So why is Love to Hate You a good binge? Let me count the ways.
- Series Title: Love to Hate You (Korean: 연애대전)
- Starring: Kim Ok-vin, Teo Yoo, Kim Ji-hoon, Go Won-hee
- Written by: Choi Soo-young
- Directed by: Kim Jung-kwon
- Network: Netflix
- Where to watch in the US: Netflix
- Year Released: 2023
- # of episodes: 10
- KafeNook Rating: 4.3 sips
Love to Hate You — !! Minor Spoilers Ahead!!
One: The Setup
Love to Hate You pairs Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-vin of Arthdal Chronicles), a sassy, lawyer who uses her self-taught martial arts skills to beat up bad men, with Nam Kang-ho (Teo Yoo from the movie Past Lives), a popular actor with a history of antagonism toward his female leads. When Yeo Mi-ran takes a job at Gilmu Entertainment Law Firm, a series of misunderstandings leads her to make client Kang-ho her next target. Kang-ho doesn’t know what to make of Gilmu Entertainment’s newest lawyer, who swears tripping him was an accident one minute then claims to be his biggest fan the next. What follows is a refreshingly adult relationship between the two of them as Mi-ran poses as Kang-ho’s girlfriend to dissuade rumors about him.
Two: Mi-ran Is Not Your Average Heroin
Kim Ok-vin portrays one of my favorite characters in Arthdal Chronicles, Tae Al-ha, who is as strong as she is beautiful. She is the perfect choice for Yeo Mi-ran, a woman who is not your average Kdrama heroin. A quick look at actress Kim Ok-vin’s Wikipedia page reveals that she trained in martial arts as a child – attaining belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo. She also practices Muay Thai (I don’t really know what that is but it sounds interesting) and boxing. She likes cars, motorcycles, speed racing, building computers and various sports. Oh- and she is ambidextrous. That pretty much sounds like the resume for the character of Mi-ran.
In addition to being an exceptional lawyer, Mi-ran displays a physicality not usually exhibited by woman. This intrigues Kang-ho who is starring in a movie and needs to learn street fighting skills. Mi-ran’s style of fighting seems to be just the ticket. Part of the fun of the drama is how Mi-ran continually challenges Kang-ho’s expectations of women and leads to their fake relationship becoming real.
Three: Kang-ho and Won-jun Are the Best Buds
I have been waiting patiently for the movie Past Lives to come out for free on a streaming service given all the great reviews it has received. Not to mention the fact it is nominated for Best Picture! (And hooray – it is now out on Paramount+!) Actor Teo Yoo gives me one more reason to watch it. (Plus – he is going to be in season two of Noah Centineo’s spy thriller, The Recruit – hooray!) The way the corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles is enough to melt any heart.
Teo Yoo’s character, Kang-ho, may be a top actor, but he has a deep secret – known only by his best friend and manager, Do Won-jun. It’s hard to believe that Kim Ji-hoon is the same person who plays the bad guy in Death’s Game. He is so down to earth as Won-jun, and a good friend – even (and hilariously) helping Kang-ho rehearse romantic scenes to help address his friend’s anxiety. Won-jun is a rare manager who puts his friend first. He truly wants Kang-ho to be happy and, after some initial reservations, comes to realize that Mi-ran is Kang-ho’s one and only. While not quite as good a bromance as in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Kang-ho and Won-jun’s friendship is a highlight of the series.
Four: Flight Attendant Go Won-hee Is Looking for a Good Man
Between this drama and King the Land, Go Won-hee spent most of 2023 portraying a flight attendant. That may be why the character of Shin Na-eun seems like she could be the twin sister of Go Won-hee’s King the Land character. In both cases, they have a track record of picking out losers. All Na-eun wants is a good man but she is afraid her attraction to handsome Won-jun will be a case of history repeating itself. Won-jun mistakenly thinks Na-eun wants to be payed off for her silence about Mi-ran and Kang-ho’s fake relationship and is surprised to find out how a good a friend she actually is to Mi-ran. When Na-eun decides to fight her attraction to Won-jun, this only makes him more interested in her. These two genuinely nice people dance around each other a lot which makes their road to each other all that more interesting.
Five: Love to Hate You Has a Good Ending
I sat on the edge of my seat during the last episode of Love to Hate You, wondering if there would be a happy ending. When Mi-ran’s history of beating up bad men is revealed, would public opinion keep her and Kang-ho apart? Kang-ho puts his heart on the line while Mi-ran chooses to protect him. Doggone it – they love each other so much! Thankfully, the subsequent time jump is only about a month (not years like so many dramas!) and reveals how much Mi-ran regrets her decision. After a bit of angst, the drama ends happily for both couples.
Of course, now I really want to watch the “movie” filmed during the drama starring Kang-ho. The action looks cool and the story interesting – especially since the heroin is changed to be a more equal partner for Kang-ho’s character.
Bonus Reason Why Love to Hate You is A Good Binge
Love to Hate You is only ten episodes long!
